COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO
Saturday October 3rd, 3pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Sazerac

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
Lee Warren Electrical Contractors

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Alex Dyer 77, John Johnson 90

Attendance: 4,391 (685 away fans)

Cobblers: Chris Dunn, John Johnson, Craig Hinton, Chris McCready, Andy Holt, Ben Marshall, Ryan Gilligan, John Curtis (sub Alex Dyer* 68), Luke Guttridge (sub Gary Mulligan 40), Steve Guinan, Courtney Herbert (sub Billy McKay 54). Subs not used: Simon Brown, Paul Rodgers, Abdul Osman, Seb Harris.

* Sazerac man of the match

Bradford City: Simon Eastwood, Simon Ramsden, Luke O'Brien, Michael Flynn, Zesh Rehman, Lee Bullock, Steve Williams, Michael Boulding, Jonathan Bateson, James O'Brien (sub Chris Brandon 78), Scott Neilson. Subs not used: Matthew Clarke, Joe McLaughlin, Leon Osborne, Luke Sharry, Louis Horne.

Referee: Mr D Phillips

Booked:
Cobblers: Ryan Gilligan (44, 4th of the season)
Bradford: Zesh Rehman (51), Simon Eastwood (65), James O'Brien (68) 

5 cautions on or before 28 February; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Bradford: none

Sending offs: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.

Ian Sampson made one change to his Northampton Town side as they welcomed Bradford City to Sixfields. Groin injury victim Dean Beckwith missed out, and he was replaced by Chris McCready. Adebayo Akinfenwa (knee) was absent along with Liam Davis (foot).

On a blustery, autumnal afternoon, the Cobblers players took to the field wearing black armbands in memory of supporter, sponsor and landlady to the players Diane Moriarty, who sadly passed away earlier in the week.

The first few minutes saw a number of half chances to both sides, with a low cross from Ben Marshall causing problems for the Bantams defence. The first clear opportunity fell to Steve Guinan on 9 minutes. Ryan Gilligan played in the Cobblers striker and on the angle he shot over visiting keeper Simon Eastwood but also inches over the bar.

Ian Sampson's side had started at a good tempo, and Luke Guttridge found the side netting when he cut inside and a fired a powerful shot at goal. Minutes later a first time effort from the same player was over the bar from a John Johnson cross.

A 29th minute scramble in the Bradford area saw both Andy Holt and Steve Guinan have efforts on target blocked and cleared, before brave defending from John Johnson and Chris McCready kept the Cobblers goal intact. A high ball into the area was caught by the wind and caused problems for the defenders, allowing Michael Boulding to head against the cross bar and have his follow up blocked. As it was, an offside flag meant that the goal would not have stood in any event.

The visitors were coming more into the game as half time approached, and Scott Neilson shot over the bar from 20 yards, before the Cobblers made a change, Gary Mulligan on for Luke Guttridge.

Ryan Gilligan was booked for a late foul on Michael Flynn as the first half ended goalless.

The visitors had the lead five minutes after half time. As the Cobblers battled to clear a corner, a shot from Simon Ramsden took a deflection as it went through a crowd of players to beat Chris Dunn.

Zesh Rehman was booked for a crude foul on Gary Mulligan, before the lead was doubled, Michael Boulding scored from inside the area, latching on to a free kick from Jonathan Bateson.

Ian Sampson introduced Billy McKay for Courtney Herbert, while moments later Ben Marshall tested Simon Eastwood with a curling free kick.

Steve Guinan was close on the hour mark, meeting a Johnson cross with a powerful header that was tipped onto the post by Eastwood. Eastwood was then penalised for handling a back pass on 65 minutes, the keeper also picked up a caution for throwing the ball away. Marshall's effort from the indirect free kick, 12 yards out, was blocked.

James O'Brien was then lucky to see only yellow for a foul on Ryan Gilligan. The final Cobblers change then saw Alex Dyer replace John Curtis.

A rasping drive from Billy McKay was tipped over by Eastwood, before Chris Dunn made a good save, palming away an effort from Boulding.

Alex Dyer pulled a goal back on 77 minutes with a hooked volley from Andy Holt's knock back, the Bantams then making a change, Chris Brandon on for James O'Brien.

The Cobblers pulled level on 90 minutes. A free kick from the left from Ryan Gilligan was headed home by John Johnson for his first senior goal.

Ian Sampson's side still came forward looking for a dramatic winner, but the game ended with honours even.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 12
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 4
CORNERS: (0) 2
FOULS: (7) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2

BRADFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (1) 5
FOULS: (4) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 5

The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.

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